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Cleaning & Maintaining Your Fireplace
Creosote Formation and Removal
Creosote accumulations in the chimney are extremely dangerous and present a serious fire hazard. The tar-like
substance is generated when wood is burned slowly, producing tar and other organic vapors. When combined
with expelled moisture, creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool chimney flue of a slow-burning fire.
Creosote build-up can ignite suddenly and will burn at extremely high temperatures. The chimney should be
inspected at least twice a year during the heating season to determine if a creosote build-up has occurred: if so,
it should be removed to reduce the risk of a chimney fire.
Chimney Cleaning Instructions
In order to clear creosote from the flue, the chimney cap must be removed.
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If the termination is a round top characterized by 3 ft. of exposed pipe and a round cap, simply remove
the three sheet metal screws that secure the termination to the last section of the pipe and lift the cap off.
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For chase style termination with a pyramid cap, remove the screws at the four corners that secure the top.
Place the top aside. The flue is now clear for cleaning.
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Cleaning the chimney is very dirty work. Close the damper before starting or fine soot can become airborne
in the house. After cleaning is completed, open the damper and collect the debris in a trash container. A
professional chimney sweep has all the tools and experience necessary to do a complete job and should be
considered for this chore. Be certain to clean all loose debris from spark arrestors before replacing
terminations.
Grate
If your grate has deteriorated or is distorted, it should be replaced with a Contempo grate designed for your
fireplace.
Troubleshooting
Smoking
When installed and operated properly, your full-view fireplace will operate without smoke spillage into the room.
In the event a smoking problem does occur, the cause may be easily traced to one of the conditions listed:
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Outside environmental conditions, such as inversions.
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Lack of ventilation due to a tightly insulated house. This can prevent the fireplace from drawing properly.
Open a window slightly near the fireplace.
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Other appliances competing for the available air in a tightly sealed home, such as: heating appliances,
kitchen exhaust fans, and bathroom exhaust fans.
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Relationship of your house to hills, trees and nearby taller buildings. This can affect wind conditions which
will have a direct effect on your fireplace operation.
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Chimney termination not installed to the proper height.
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Blockage of the flue or the termination cap.
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Flue and termination caked with a creosote build-up.
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Grate too far forward, not positioned behind the andiron fence.
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Damper not in the fully opened position.